For immediate release: December 15, 2003
For more information, contact Jeff Bendix at 216-368-6070 or jeff.bendix@case.edu

CLEVELAND—Social work is all about strengthening ties among individuals, families and communities, and what better way to do that than by sharing meals?

The Dr. Semi J. and Ruth Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education is partnering with local independent restaurants in the Cleveland area in an innovative program designed to bring holiday cheer to some local families and strengthen community ties. The Begun Center is part of Case Western Reserve University's Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences.

The program, "Nourishing Community: Local Restaurants Serving Local Families" will pair at-risk families with members of the Cleveland Independent Restaurant Association, the local chapter of the Council of Independent Restaurants of America. Employees of participating restaurants will purchase gifts and prepare a holiday meal, all of which will be delivered to their "family" December 18 (the day before Chanukah) or December 23.

"Social work must be creative to meet today's community and family needs," said Grover C. Gilmore, dean and professor of social work at the Mandel School. "Bringing together local, independent restaurants with disadvantaged families represents a unique approach to community building that will benefit all the parties involved."

Thirty restaurants so far have agreed to participate in the "Nourishing Community" program. Families taking part in the program were selected by the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services and the Jewish Family Services Association.

"Research has shown that greater community support of at-risk families improves community-family unity and leads to lower levels of community and family violence," said Mark Fleisher, Begun professor and director of the Begun Center.

The Begun Center was founded with a gift from Dr. Semi J. and Ruth W. Begun, scientists who emigrated to the United States from Germany in the early 1930s. Its goals are to form academic partnerships to research and analyze the causes and effects of violent behavior, create a system for identifying populations at risk for violent behavior, form networks among parents, educators and community groups to intervene in the cycle of violence and build on existing interventions and curricula that address social problems associated with youth violence.

About Case Western Reserve University

Case is among the nation's leading research institutions. Founded in 1826 and shaped by the unique merger of the Case Institute of Technology and Western Reserve University, Case is distinguished by its strengths in education, research, and service. Located in Cleveland, Case offers nationally recognized programs in the Arts and Sciences, Dentistry, Engineering, Law, Management, Medicine, Nursing, and Social Sciences. http://www.case.edu.

 

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